Ben Gibbard

Infobox Musical artist

---

Img_size = 200
Name = Ben Gibbard
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Benjamin D. Gibbard
Origin =
Born = birth date and age|1976|08|11
Bremerton, Washington
Genre = Indie
Rock
Occupation = Singer-songwriter, guitarist
Years_active = 1994 – present
Instrument = Guitar
vocals
Piano
drums
Bass
First_album = "You Can Play These Songs with Chords"
Latest_album = "Plans"
Notable_albums = "Transatlanticism"
Notable songs = Sound of Settling
Such Great Heights
Send Packing
Label = Barsuk
Atlantic Records
Sub Pop
Wawa Records
Associated_acts = Death Cab for Cutie
The Postal Service
¡All-Time Quarterback!
URL = [http://www.bengibbard.com Official website]

Benjamin Gibbard (born August 11, 1976 in Bremerton, Washington) is an American musician who has formed several indie bands. He is most notable as the lead singer of Death Cab for Cutie and The Postal Service, although also known for his project ¡All-Time Quarterback!.

Personal life and career

Gibbard spent his formative years in Bremerton, Washington during the time of the grunge musical explosion during the early 1990s. Growing up he was influenced by Nirvana, Stone Roses, Superchunk, Built to Spill, Teenage Fanclub, The Pixies and Ultra Vivid Scene. He also cites Jack Kerouac as a major influencecite web| url=http://www.pastemagazine.com/action/article/7074/feature/music/the_meaning_of_life |title=The Meaning of Life] . He studied Engineering at Western Washington University.cite web| url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/20/AR2005102000645.html|title=Death Cab, Full Speed Ahead] He and his band Death Cab for Cutie are also known for their contributions to veganism and animal rights.cite web| url=http://www.spin.com/features/news/2006/01/060109_dcfc_peta/|title=Death Cab Brakes for Animals]

It has recently been announced that Gibbard will have a small role in a John Krasinski film entitled "Brief Interviews with Hideous Men". cite web| url=http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/40471/Ben_Gibbard_Goes_Hollywood/|title=Ben Gibbard Goes Hollywood] Gibbard completed a solo tour through the US in the spring of 2007 which featured David Bazan of Pedro the Lion, and singer-songwriter Johnathan Rice. He currently resides in Seattle.

Collaborations

*Appeared on the 2008 Nada Surf album "Lucky", on the song "See These Bones".
*Appeared as a guest on Jimmy Tamborello's (his Postal Service collaborator) Dntel album entitled "Life Is Full of Possibilities", contributing vocals to the song "(This Is) The Dream of Evan and Chan."
*Sang backing vocals on the song "This Is the Thrilling Conversation You've Been Waiting For" from Harvey Danger's 2000 album "King James Version."
*Played bass for Pedro the Lion on their 2001 tour.
*Played drums on the song "Carparts" for The Long Winters' 2002 album, "The Worst You Can Do Is Harm".
*Performed drums on label-mate's Kind of Like Spitting 2002 album, "Bridges Worth Burning", further contributing vocals to the album's untitled last track.
*Collaborated with Andrew Kenny on "Home Volume V", released March 30, 2004, as part of the "Home" EP series.
*Contributed vocals for Styrofoam's 2004 album "Nothing's Lost" on the track "Couches in Alleys."
*Contributed vocals to a song ("Handle with Care") on Rilo Kiley frontwoman Jenny Lewis's side project Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins's album, "Rabbit Fur Coat".
*Is the original bassist for the Revolutionary Hydra, a band that also included Death Cab for Cutie bandmate Chris Walla and original drummer Nathan Good and Phil Elvrum of the Microphones fame.
*Provided backup vocals on the song "Midnight Again" for Certainly, Sir's album "TAN!"
*Co-wrote the film score for the film "Kurt Cobain About a Son", about the Nirvana lead singer, with producer Steve Fisk.
*Contributed backing vocals on the 2008 release by Sun Kil Moon, "April".
*Contributed vocals on The Postal Service remix of "Mushaboom" by Feist.
*Contributed backing vocals on the 2001 release by The Prom, "Now and Then".
*Contributed backing vocals on the 2001 The American Analog Set album "Know By Heart", on the song "The Postman".

Discography

Death Cab for Cutie

*1997 "You Can Play These Songs with Chords"
*1998 "Something About Airplanes"
*2000 "We Have the Facts and We're Voting Yes"
*2001 "The Photo Album"
*2002 "You Can Play These Songs with Chords" [expanded]
*2003 "Transatlanticism"
*2005 "Plans"
*2008 "Narrow Stairs"

Ben Gibbard

*2004 Home, Vol. 5 (A split LP with Andrew Kenny)

The Postal Service

*2003 "Give Up"

¡All-Time Quarterback!

*1999 "¡All-Time Quarterback!"
*1999 "The Envelope Sessions"
*2002 "¡All-Time Quarterback!"

See also

*Chris Walla
*Jason McGerr
*Nick Harmer
*Death Cab for Cutie
*The Postal Service
*¡All-Time Quarterback!

Gear

Ben plays:
*G & L Bluesboy Sunburst,
*G & L Bluesboy TL Honey Sunburst,
*G & L Bluesboy TL Black,
*Gibson J-45 Black, and a
*Gibson J-45 Brown.

On the song "Title and Registration" Ben plays on a Roland PD-7 Dual Trigger and uses Vic Firth 5A wood tip sticks.

References

External links

* [http://www.mog.com/ben_gibbard Ben's personal blog page]
* [http://blog.neatlysliced.com/ben-gibbard/ Unofficial Discography]
* [http://www.deathcabforcutie.com Death Cab for Cutie's official website]
* [http://www.theonlinemusicsource.com/bengibbard.html 20 Questions with Ben Gibbard] from 2000
* [http://platial.com/paiges/map/1950#Death_Cab_for_Cutie_2006 Death Cab for Cutie 2006 Tour] Mapped on Platial
* [http://therichgirlsareweeping.blogspot.com/2006/08/what-were-you-doing-10-years-ago-well.html Pinwheel] music from Gibbard's former band
* [http://www.flip.com/people/flipbooks/72770?conNext=true Death Cab for Cutie Fan Flipbook]
* [http://www.flip.com/people/flipbooks/66413?conNext=true The Postal Service Fan Flipbook]
* [http://www.spin.com/articles/death-cabs-ben-gibbard-next-record-will-be-softer Death Cab's Ben Gibbard:Reveals plans for the follow-up to 'Narrow Stairs']